Balloons Baby, Balloons

Around The Kitchen

I love our kitchen. I really, really do. It's not huge. It's not fancy. It's a little helter skelter. But I love it.

I love the way the morning light shines through the window. I love having all my turquoise pottery in one place.

I love this cat clock that my sisters gave me for Christmas a few years ago. I miss them a lot lately, and looking at the clock cheers me.

I love the rickety flea market furniture. It's a happy room. I'm happy when I'm there.

Cleaning, Cleaning, Cleaning

There's just something about this time of year. After all the holiday hooplah is over I get in super-clean mode. I need for things to be put away and sparse. No extra decor. Nothing sitting around getting kicked on the floor (with the exception of Jane's toys). I never understood spring cleaning. I could never wait that long. So that's me. Cleaning out closets. Wiping baseboards. Fighting off a cold. My next book should be called "My Not So Exciting Life." :)

There Are Toys. Everywhere.

Our house has become Jane's playground. It was only a matter of time.

I just didn't know it would happen so quick. This morning I tried so hard to clean every last inch of the house. I put all the toys away, stacked books, folded laundry.

Nothing escaped my watchful eye. Or so I thought.
Then I found this little guy. Carefully tucked on top of my magazines. No idea how he got there. No idea who put him there. But it's official. There are toys everywhere.

Dear Bulbs

Dear Bulbs,

Stop growing. It's January. Duh.

Sincerely,

Liz

Sponsor/St. Jude Thanks

Thanks to Laura for supporting St. Jude, and don't miss her adorable baby accessories at her etsy shop, Ruby Red Handmade. She has a coupon code that when entered during check-out will give you 15% off your whole purchase. The code is "mabel" and the discount will run until the end of February.

Another big thanks to Stone Tree! Check them out here. I seriously covet their leather bags. And when I say covet, I mean if I saw a woman carrying one on the street I would stop her and say, "Hey, can I have that?" And she would be all, "POLICE, HELP." And then I'd get a ticket or go to jail or something. Anyway, the point is they make awesome leather bags and purses, so check it out.

Some Things (8 To Be Exact)

*these crack me up every time. found here.

1. While driving this week I passed by a, um, ahem, Women's Undergarment Specialty Store and the electronic sign out front was advertising for C-Strings. I'm guessing that was a typo.

2. I renewed my license and spent a good part of a morning at the main DMV. I sat between two seemingly homeless men named Walt and Boo. We discussed how Chicken McNuggets were made of eyeballs and chicken bones.

3. Jane is practicing drinking from a cup. But so far she just blows bubbles and creates a cauldron-like hot tub in her plastic pink cup. She thinks this is perhaps the cleverest of all her endeavors and laughs at herself afterward. She is her father's child.

4. Mabel is very sulky whenever we play with Jane. She slings her toys into the middle of us and barks. Actually, it's more of a scream. Either way, she needs medication.

5. Someone needs to tell my yard it's not spring. The bulbs are confused. Maybe they need medication too.

6. Matt and I are waist deep in total chaos. It's a life event I'm not at liberty to share publicly just yet, which feels weird because I share most everything with you guys. It's not a bad thing. And no, I'm not pregnant. But keep us in your prayers. Mabel's House is experiencing a bit of an upheaval.

7. I've been sucked into the world of Downton Abbey.

8. I've been trying to keep my nails painted on a weekly basis for perhaps the first time since high school. I both love and loath this process. I love the first three days. But now my nails are just red chippy messes and I find myself whispering, "Why can't you guys get it together? You're making us look bad." But they don't care. I have selfish nails.